The West Coast has lengthy been Delta Air Strains’ quieter stronghold—strategic, however typically overshadowed by the airline’s dominance in Atlanta and New York. Now, nevertheless, that’s beginning to change.
With new worldwide routes launching from Los Angeles and Seattle in 2026, together with the return of nonstop service to Hong Kong and new hyperlinks to Rome and Barcelona, in addition to new Delta One lounges on the West Coast, Delta is doubling down on long-haul flights and positioning its western hubs as key world connectors.
Right here’s what that you must learn about Delta’s rising worldwide footprint.
Delta’s new routes to Europe from Seattle
From Seattle, Delta will debut flights to Rome and Barcelona in Could 2026. Service to Italy’s Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO) begins Could 6, working 4 instances weekly, whereas the path to Spain’s Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN) launches Could 7 with three weekly flights. The routes will likely be seasonal, wrapping up in October, and each will likely be operated utilizing Airbus A330-900neo plane, that are configured with 281 seats, together with 29 Delta One suites, 28 Premium Choose seats, and 224 financial system seats.
The brand new European routes additionally intensify competitors out of Seattle, the place Alaska Airways not too long ago introduced its personal nonstop service to Rome. Delta’s growth comes alongside its broader funding within the Seattle airport. On June 24, 2025, Delta opened its fourth Delta One lounge (after Boston, Los Angeles, and New York’s JFK), a 24,000-square-foot hideaway completely for business-class vacationers, which options seated three-course meal service with dishes highlighting native substances (resembling Dungeness crab cannelloni and wood-fired teriyaki steelhead trout), an open-air terrace, and views of Mount Rainier on clear days. The Delta One lounge sits atop a brand new Sky Membership (marking the corporate’s 53rd Sky Membership outpost), which presents self-service meals islands, a premium bar, and bathe suites. Each areas are situated within the airport’s A concourse.
Why go to Rome in 2026
Rome, which made the listing of Afar’s high locations to go in 2024, continues to be having a second. Subsequent yr will mark the end result of its Jubilee Yr celebrations, and thru January, town will proceed to host pilgrimage occasions, public artwork installations, and expanded museum programming. One of the crucial thrilling unveilings of 2026 will arguably be the Grottino del Campidoglio, an enormous community of historic tunnels hidden beneath Capitoline Hill that has been closed for greater than a century and is about to open to the general public late within the yr, full with interpretive displays and guided excursions. When visiting, vacationers may have an attractive array of latest luxurious accommodations to select from, together with Bulgari Lodge Rome, Six Senses Rome, the Rome Version, and Palazzo Talia (named certainly one of Afar’s greatest new accommodations of 2025). As of this spring, the posh rail expertise La Dolce Vita Orient Categorical is transporting passengers again in time as they journey by way of a number of areas within the nation, together with Rome, on two- and three-day itineraries. And the hospitality group Orient Categorical’s first-ever resort, La Minerva, has simply opened in Rome as nicely.
Why go to Barcelona in 2026
In 2026, greater than 140 years after development first started, the famed Sagrada Família basilica in Barcelona by Catalan mastermind and architect Antoni Gaudí is lastly anticipated to be accomplished. Subsequent yr additionally marks 100 years because the demise of Gaudí. The monumental occasions will coincide with Barcelona’s designation because the UNESCO World Capital of Structure in 2026, throughout which Gaudí and different well-known architects and designers will seemingly be highlighted and celebrated in particular displays, installations, and excursions. Whereas exploring town, be sure you verify into certainly one of a number of new accommodations, such because the glamorous new waterfront SLS Barcelona, and Borneta, a 92-room boutique property from way of life model Miiro, situated in Barcelona’s artsy El Born neighborhood. Biking followers could need to contemplate a summer season journey to the Spanish seaside metropolis, as Barcelona hosts the Tour de France’s ceremonial and aggressive begin for the primary time, in early July.
Delta’s return to Hong Kong from Los Angeles
Delta Air Strains can be set to relaunch year-round nonstop service between Los Angeles and Hong Kong (HKG) beginning June 6, 2026, and can function every day aboard an Airbus A350-900. Delta’s flagship plane for long-haul service, the planes are configured with 40 Delta First Suites, 40 Delta Premium Choose recliners, 36 Consolation+ extra-legroom seats, and 159 financial system seats.
The transfer to L.A. places the airline again in probably the most aggressive and strategically vital markets within the Pacific (it acts as a significant gateway to Asia and the Pacific—with it, Delta will be capable to join to a different 30-plus one-stop locations). Now Delta is head-to-head with Cathay Pacific and United, each of which function on the route. Delta final flew to Hong Kong in 2018 earlier than chopping the service because of softer demand.
Why go to Hong Kong in 2026
After years of pandemic-related disruptions and shifting customer patterns, Hong Kong has reemerged as a sought-after vacation spot following a wave of latest developments. The Kai Tak Sports activities Park—a mega-complex with a 50,000-seat stadium, eating places, and retailers—opened earlier this yr and has already hosted main rugby tournaments, such because the Hong Kong Sevens. In the case of the humanities, the West Kowloon Cultural District has turn out to be a must-visit hub, with newer establishments such because the M+ Museum and the Hong Kong Palace Museum (which opened in 2021 and 2022, respectively) persevering with to host main exhibitions. The Regent Hong Kong, a beloved resort with Victoria Harbour views, not too long ago reopened after a significant renovation, whereas new choices, together with the Hopewell Lodge and Dorsett Kai Tak, have began welcoming friends inside the final yr.